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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Pouting, Painting and Pondering

This week I am in the studio doing small works on paper. I needed a break from my larger work after my husband left a door open on my studio allowing a gust of wind to turn the painting I blogged about last week into a sail which resulted in a large rip in the canvas. I could try and repair the rip and continue, but the painting wasn't really working anyway. I just don't feel like investing the time into something that is already damaged.

I was disappointed. Yes. I did take most of the day to pout, bitch and complain. I behaved horribly, which I felt obligated to do. (wink) Sometimes...ya just gotta stomp your feet and get it all out!

Perhaps he did me a favor. The event forced me to change course and start on something fresh and new. My other studio work can wait for a little bit while I explore this avenue. I am having fun with it. I showed this one painting to my friends on Facebook yesterday and I have gotten nice feedback.

Gouache and pencil on paper. 6 inch X 6 inch.

My husband called it whimsical. Another friend called it bubbly delicious! I haven't called it anything yet. Which is kinda strange because I usually name every last thing I paint. Anybody out there care to help a girl out?! Wanna take a stab at a name? Who knows....perhaps I will use it.

So, I could have remained stuck in that rip-in-my-canvas moment. I could have used it as an excuse to impede the momentum that I am attempting to build in my studio work. To many...including my critical self, that would have been understandable...even justified.

But why? What was I to gain from remaining in that negative place? What benefit or growth can be achieve if we allow ourselves to be tied down? There might have been something to gain in that place. I think there is something to learn from in every circumstance. But I chose to let it go and move on. I chose to untie from that entrapment and explore what a new freedom might offer.

In order to feel good about not languishing in that place, I had to completely switch it up and work in a different manner. My husband knew what was good for him, so he helped me rearrange and clean up my studio space over the weekend. I set up the tables in a different configuration that is more conducive to working on a paper. It's amazing what a little clean up and switch up can do for perspective! Fresh path.

Who knows to what this path might lead. I think it is worth traveling. I think that this matters. I think letting go of what ties us down matters. It allows us to move on...

“You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles.”

25 comments:

I think your new work speaks directly to your post theme! To me it looks like the bubbles are rising from the depths up into the light. It's refreshing and happy, at least that's how I see bubbles. What a great way to release the negativity, frustration, and stress. I told my husband I was going to wax a piece today after dealing with typical teenage girl angst yesterday :-). It's better for me than drinking!

I totally know what you mean about your work space. When my sewing room gets cluttered, threads all over the floor, trash cans full...I find myself losing focus. My productivity goes down. I avoid even going in the room. Once I straighten, clean and re-group it's like I'm a whole different person. I'm glad you took the time to do this for yourself...and it was nice that your husband helped! Happy Weekend friend ~ Ann

Such a shame that the wind ripped your canvas but perhaps it was a sign from the universe to let it go and start with something new? Your poor husband (I'd have been exactly the same with the pouting and making him feel even worse about it but at the end of the day these things happen!) I really like this piece - it is whimsical and it is a little abstract and fun.

Oh No sad about your canvas...that really is a shame!! I agree with your words making room for the new...I think you have inspired me!! All we can do is trek on after the fall!! Nice piece you have here!!

Your painting style is wonderful, fresh and so unique! Way to go in turning The Big Rip around and doing something awesome with it. Sometimes having no choice but to go on, agonizing as it is, is the best motivator ever -- and the result is usually twice as good after a good bout of bitching, pouting and moaning!

I think it's bubbly, whimsical AND delicious. I sympathize with the ripped painting. I had a similar experience brought on by MY husband...and it actually turned out for the best...after I "let it go" I began one that turned out better....Things happen for a reason, they say..

This is a sweet painting - I always love bubbles. The simplicity is both calming and it lightens my heart. It's really lovely - it reminds me of (I think) part of the title of a book (which was called unbearable lightness of being). I would drop the unbearable in looking at your painting - so just lightness of being!

Oh, what a smart and thoughtful post this is. I think you are dead-right in recognizing the torn painting as an excuse and not allowing yourself to use it. Far from being impeded, your momentum is flowing, floating, bubbling, rising. beautiful work.